Ah, through this line of thinking, should we assume that American skaters were benefited from 2002 Winter Olympics being held in Salt Lake City, USA? Timethy Goebel, Michelle Kwan, Sasha Cohen, and Sarah Hughes? I never thought about it but, hey, it has the possibility, hasn't it?

(Everyone stands to benefit from a little home advantage though. But unlike team sports, not everyone has the opportunity. )

I typed too slow. By the time I posted my, you have already responded to the question. I'll take your response as it is.

However, your first post regarding to this topic could be easily interpreted as what i love to skate said. There is a strong reason for that because there are already a lot of conspiracy theories along this line going on on the web and on this board.

If a Canadian skater wins a medal it is ONLY because they are from Canada and the judges have all gotten together and decided that the Canadian skaters should win medals - solely based on their nationality. They never deserve their marks. ALL Canadian skaters are held up. Canada is BAD. It's all Canada's fault.

I'm too tired right now to read all the way through, so apologies if I'm just echoing anyone else.

Imaginarypogue, I agree with almost all the points in your list. ( I wish there was an eyebrow-wiggling smilie )..but in regard to the Dom/Shabs , I confess to being fearful..(sigh) I just hope whoever wins truly deserves it..but many's the Russian dance couple that's been undeservedly held up at Olys or Worlds. ( sometimes over another Russian couple , depending on whose coach had more clout at the moment )...I thought last year's world's was pretty suspect . Another example among many that leaps to mind is Lobacheva & Averbukh's win at Vancouver World's. I managed to be there for that one, and it was blatant right from the CD's (slow, small patterns,sloppy, etc.) continuing through the OD and FD.

I know there will be those who'll cry foul whatever the outcome, but it's pretty frustrating when those cries have merit and are just brushed off as sour grapes. ( There isn't a nail-biting or hair-tearing-out smilie either..)

Many's the Russian dance couple that's been undeservedly held up at Olys or Worlds. ( sometimes over another Russian couple , depending on whose coach had more clout at the moment )...I thought last year's world's was pretty suspect . Another example among many that leaps to mind is Lobacheva & Averbukh's win at Vancouver World's. I managed to be there for that one, and it was blatant right from the CD's (slow, small patterns,sloppy, etc.) continuing through the OD and FD.

The wuzrobbing abilities of the Russians are such that they win even if they didn't win? Have the results been changed retroactively? I'm impressed with the Power of Piseev.

For the record, L/A won Worlds only once, and that was in Nagano 2002, where they came in as the Olympic silver medalists (A/P did not compete). Barbara Fusar-Poli and Maurizzio Margaglio won the ice dance event in Vancouver in 2001, and I agree, it was ludicrous for them to take the title. Though not that much more suspect than S/P winning pairs that year. But it's not politiks unless the Russians are involved, is it?

Definitely, colleen. Given COP and it's questionable application there is gonna be some claims that are worthy of attention. They'll just be hard to suss out amongst all the kneejerk criticisms. And this goes for everyone. That's the challenge.

buttercup..I stand corrected...pardon me ( tired and foggy)... At that competition I , wasn't impressed with some other scores either ( including F/M ), but L/A were an absolute standout for blatant propping up. It stands out in my mind as one of the worst things I've seen. In person,it was so obvious, I was shocked. I would have thought the judges would have had to be a bit more subtle about it. L/A certainly "won" a higher placement than they deserved and a number of teams suffered accordingly... ( but...my bad.)

buttercup..I stand corrected...pardon me ( tired and foggy)... At that competition I , wasn't impressed with some other scores either ( including F/M ), but L/A were an absolute standout for blatant propping up. It stands out in my mind as one of the worst things I've seen. In person,it was so obvious, I was shocked. I would have thought the judges would have had to be a bit more subtle about it. L/A certainly "won" a higher placement than they deserved and a number of teams suffered accordingly... ( but...my bad.)

..Except I was referring to 2001. ..I freely admit to my late night confusion with the placements, lack of fact checking, etc. 8 yrs.later ( I blush.)
However , in the rink at the time , it was pretty obvious that they were being held up to their pre-injury standard. On the concourse after the various segments,there were of course,all sorts of opinions favouring or disparaging this couple vis a vis that couple ,but the headshaking and disbelief over L/A was pretty universal.